Chaos Contained

 

Chaos Contained

Colossians 1: ¹⁷ Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. ¹⁸ He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body's life. He is the first-born Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things.

 

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Running late, I hurried to get myself out the door. I grabbed whatever things I could remember for work and hastily jumped in the car. When I got to work, I reached for the computer and it wasn’t there.

 

• I had a chaotic morning that day.
• I hurried through my decisions and caused more chaos.
• I caused my own chaos and had to deal with the consequences of my actions.

 

In a world filled with chaos, Paul gives an assuring message. He spoke about JESUS existing before all things. Everything has its proper place in JESUS. HE is the source of life.

 

My Observations

• When the world gets chaotic, I can always turn to JESUS who brings all things into order.
• Knowing that JESUS existed before all things helps me put my current thing under HIM.
• Since JESUS overcame death, I can know that there is nothing too hard for HIM.

 

Chaos is scared of order. I mean, chaos wants randomness to create fear in my heart. The unknown gets bigger and bigger, causing me to move faster and faster into possible bad decisions. BUT GOD has a remedy for chaos.

 

JESUS is the head of the church, which is the group of those who believe in HIS resurrection. HE is the source of life for all who believe. All chaos can be brough to HIM in prayer and HE in turn will order our steps. I am glad HE is willing to take first place to bring peace to me.

 

Challenge

• What “things” does the writer speak of?
• Have you ever felt your life is out of control?
• Do you have a place to give your chaos?
• Will you bring your life into order by giving it to the one who existed before all things, namely JESUS today?

Women Leaders Needed

Women Leaders Needed

1 Corinthians 14: ³³ because God does not want us to be in disorder but in harmony and peace.

As in all the churches of God's people, ³⁴ the women should keep quiet in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak; as the Jewish Law says, they must not be in charge. ³⁵ If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is a disgraceful thing for a woman to speak in a church meeting.

 

³⁶ Or could it be that the word of God came from you? Or are you the only ones to whom it came? ³⁷ If anyone supposes he is God's messenger or has a spiritual gift, he must realize that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. ³⁸ But if he does not pay attention to this, pay no attention to him.

 

³⁹ So then, my friends, set your heart on proclaiming God's message, but do not forbid the speaking in strange tongues. ⁴⁰ Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

 

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Ugh! Another tough message from Paul! When I first glanced at the message I dreaded the thought of addressing the statement because I was taking it out of context. I mean, I can only imagine my wife dreading hearing any words that would place her in an unheard state. We are working through hearing each other to this day, as all marriages should. But Paul raises a doozie!

 

• At first glance it looks like women are not valued.
• At first glance it looks like women can never say a word.
• At first glance it looks like women would cause disgrace.

 

My Observations

Again, I have to return to the curse of GOD when Adam took down all humans in Genesis 3. GOD made a hierarchy that showed sin caused disharmony between HIM and HIS creation. GOD also added pain and struggle in this curse. Nothing exciting happens in a curse. But what does the curse have to do with women speaking in church gatherings?

 

I wish I had the letter or letters written to Paul. I mean, Paul’s reference seems to be focused on married women, not all women. He seemed to be addressing an issue written to him versus bashing women. I don’t know is my answer. Here is what I believe.

 

• I believe GOD made man and woman to live in harmony.
• I believe GOD wants man and woman to have peace.
• I believe GOD wants HIS message proclaimed by every human, man and woman.

 

In this chapter, being heard “is” the problem. Not everyone can rush the stage with a message and not everyone can speak in strange tongues without full understanding. All must have the desire to spread GOD’s message of love and sometimes be silent and use restraint as the example.

 

Women leaders are needed more and more as men have not brought the harmony and peace GOD is seeking. Women who can proclaim GOD’s message while bringing in harmony and peace are desperately needed these days. Both my grandmothers and my mother, mother-in-law, wife, sister, sisters-in-law, aunts, cousins and daughter have been and should be icons of harmony and peace pertaining to proclaiming GOD’s message. I have learned a lot from them as do many.

 

Challenge

• What are your observations about harmony and peace in this chapter, not just the passage?
• What do you think about women speaking and leading in the gathering of people?
• What suggestions do you have for seeking the “harmony and peace” GOD is looking for?

Balanced Structure

Balanced Structure

! Corinthians 14: ²⁶ This is what I mean, my friends. When you meet for worship, one person has a hymn, another a teaching, another a revelation from God, another a message in strange tongues, and still another the explanation of what is said. Everything must be of help to the church. ²⁷ If someone is going to speak in strange tongues, two or three at the most should speak, one after the other, and someone else must explain what is being said. ²⁸ But if no one is there who can explain, then the one who speaks in strange tongues must be quiet and speak only to himself and to God.

 

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Nervous, I answered the interviewers’ question with a very long statement. As I remembered something, I would say “Oh, I forgot to mention…” in my disjointed rambling. Needless to say, I did not get that job. I asked someone for advice and got organized. The next time, however, I was so focused on my new structure that I was thrown off when the interview did not go as planned.

 

• I was unorganized and confused the person I was supposed to be explaining things to.
• I was then too organized and not ready for meeting a different need.
• I wanted to find a balance in my organization for something spontaneous.

 

Paul provides a suggestion rather than a command. He tried to get people to understand the real purpose of meeting together is to help people understand who JESUS is through song, teaching, testimonies and spontaneous speaking that would require interpretation. He wants everyone to think about the recipient versus those who are delivering.

 

My Observation

• GOD wants me to be organized because people need structure.
• GOD wants me to be flexible because HE cannot be contained to a certain hour or duration.
• GOD wants me to be ready for HIM to reveal HIMSELF at any moment but have control over wanting the spotlight.

 

Order in church is important, especially to someone who has never attended a church service. But has order replaced reaching people? I mean, sometimes when church meets “my” expectation as a believer, I look around and do not see the fruit of hearing from a new person who freshly gave their life to CHRIST.

 

While order is important, purpose is more important. GOD doesn’t seem to be this repetitive lifeless being, rather one who is alive and working things out in a variety of lives. Out gatherings probably will not change overnight, but I can provide a balance of structure and spontaneity to my life to bring people to CHRIST.

 

Challenge

• Have you had the urge to bring in new people to your gathering?
• When is the last time you reviewed your order or your service?
• Are you driven by meeting the expectations of those who are regular church goers?
• Will you consider a balance that provides structure and spontaneity in your own life with the purpose of easing the concerns of someone who has not yet accepted JESUS as their Savior?

Is Order a Good Thing?

1 Chronicles 24: ⁵ They divided them impartially by casting lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar.

⁶ The scribe Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officials: Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar and then one from Ithamar.

⁷ The first lot fell to Jehoiarib,

the second to Jedaiah,

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and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

¹⁹ This was their appointed order of ministering when they entered the temple of the Lord, according to the regulations prescribed for them by their ancestor Aaron, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

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“Please stand for the reading” said a priest to us. I was not familiar with the process so I felt a bit uncomfortable. As everyone spoke in unison, I stood fumbling over the words trying to determine what would be next. 

Every prayer, scripture and statement was written out for me. My mind wandered to the fact that there was SO much left on the itinerary. “When will we ever get out of here?” I thought to myself.

• Sometimes I get distracted in church because I want to be somewhere else.
• Sometimes I can’t see the purpose of church because I am thinking of the problems I am facing.
• Sometimes I think GOD isn’t in church because the spontaneity isn’t visible to me.

As I read this chapter this morning, I was tempted to skim read it because it seemed like another list of people who I couldn’t pronounce or remember.  Then it hit me.

• GOD had David create an “order of service” through a spontaneous method.
• GOD chose which order each of the twenty four ministers would serve.
• GOD was pleased to give an order to service to worship.

Everything in the universe has order. While things seem spontaneous to me, they are of no surprise to GOD. This made me rethink the boredom I experienced when worship was structured. A gentleman explained why he enjoyed reading prayers.

He said, “I enjoy reading words and meanings that were actually spoken to JESUS as HE walked the earth. I love singing songs from people who touched our risen SAVIOR.” This floored me. I never thought of it that way.

While humans have created division through religion, GOD still sees who is genuinely serving HIM and is pleased with their actions. HE wants me to recognize that “order” is a good thing as long as the focus is on HIM.

• Are you distracted in church?
• Do you think church is for your entertainment?
• Can you recognize How GOD is pleased with the order of service?

GOD is less “random” than you think.

1 Corinthians 14 26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.

 

29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

 

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When we took the field we had no plays drawn out. I ran deep and waved my hand but no one threw me the ball. In fact no one got the ball because out quarterback was sacked. No plan to execute. (Sorry for using a football analogy for those who don’t like the sport). When we regrouped this time we huddled, assigned roles, and executed.

As I ran by the tree I turned to my left and the quarterback threw me the ball and I ran for the first touchdown in my life. We needed “order” to achieve results.

 

Over the years I have blamed GOD for doing “random activity” when in fact HE loves precision, exactness and ‘absolute’ especially when it comes to strengthening the church. I saw war, famine, disease and broken people trying to serve HIM and thought “how could GOD allow these things to happen?”

 

In my life some prayers would be answered and some weren’t. Even the term “act of GOD” seemed to be random because it meant that some disaster happened. Why is GOD so random? Or is HE?

 

• Strengthen the church by singing a song because it’s hard to complain while praising GOD.
• Strengthen the church by teaching people about GOD for what HE revealed needs to be learned.
• Strengthen the church by discussing new understanding of what “HE has revealed to you” that makes you stick to HIS ways.
• Strengthen the church by speaking in another intelligible language with an interpreter so that people can grow by what is spoken.
• Strengthen the church by asking if what you just said is in alignment to what GOD told man to write in HIS Bible.

 

GOD has plans and methods that I don’t understand so daily events appear to be random but they really aren’t. GOD wants and has control. It sounds like I actually have a choice in controlling myself.

 

Every tumbling rock or raindrop is accounted for. HE has the universe under control and expects me to control myself in a way to build up and strengthen HIS church.

 

• Can you bring some order to your life?
• If you view GOD as “random” can you stop for a while to seek HIS plan?
• Do you do things with a purpose or are you letting life drag you along?
• Are you sitting back blaming GOD or are you taking steps to grow others?